What does Obama claim is a similarity between the students listening to his speech and his own experience as a student?

Obama claimed that like the students,

1. He had to wake at the very early hours of the morning to take lessons from his mother.

2. He suffered challenges that would have limited him, such as being raised by a single mom who was not really financially buoyant.

Explanation:

In his speech at Wakefield High School, Virginia, USA, which students from other schools tied in to, President Obama encouraged the students to work hard at their studies. He noted that most of the students would rather prefer being on their beds during summer, than having to put in the extra efforts to come to school. This was an experience he had when he was younger and had to wake as early as 4:30 a. m to get some extra lessons from his mother who could not afford to send him to American schools at that time.

Also, he agreed that like the students he had challenges that would have made him quit, such as, being raised by a single mom who struggled to take care of him when his father left the family at his early age of two. He therefore, urged the students to never let any challenges they faced, limit their growth.